Mechanism for sensing statistical record cards



y 2, 1953 c. T. A. JONES 2,638,270

MECHANISM FOR SENSING STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Filed Nov. 7, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor c. I 4 fax 5 B J/LL/XL Attorney May 12, 1953 c. r. A. JONES MECHANISM FOR SENSING STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 7, 1959 v M m/Kay Mo?\ Inventor C. 7- I44 IDA/[5 B 1,2 4 1511;; Attorney May 12, 1953 c. T. A. JONES MECHANISM FOR SENSING STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. 7, 1950 Cf. fO/VES By}( 1 1:4 Attorney B M vN\ r A \E 5 wow wow 00W 34 m m9 mQ I moi c. r. A. JONES 2,638,270

9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor C 77%. .fO/VEJ Attorney May 12, 1953 MECHANISM FOR SENSING STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Flled Nov 7 1950 May 12, 1953 c. 'r. A, JONES MECHANISM FOR SENSING STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Filed Nov. '7, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 May 12, 1953 c. 1-. A. JONES MECHANISM FOR SENSING STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Filed Nov. 7, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 F/GJO.

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001122334 55667788997 00 22334455667788996 0 112233445 66 0 2 34455667788994 00112 34455667783993 00 22334455667788992 U /fifi fi w /&\ 3 3 Attorney May 12, 1953 c. TfA. JONES 2,638,270

MECHANISM FOR SENSING STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Filed Nov. 7, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 I nvenlor B JLLjLL A Itorney Patented May 12, 1953 MECHANISM FOR SENSING STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Charles Thomas Arthur Jones, Wallington, England, assignor to Powers-Samas Accounting Machines Limited, London, England, a British company Application November 7, 1950, Serial No. 194,463 In Great Britain November 8, 1949 This invention relates to mechanism for sensing statistical record cards.

It is already well known in the art to double the data bearing capacity of a record card by utilising as a second. set of data indicating positions the spaces between the horizontal rows of normal data indicating positions. Such data indicating positions have come to be known as normal and interstage positions and will be referred to herein in these terms.

Cards for use in mechanism according to the present invention may in some instances have two or more sets'of data punched in each of two or more normal fields, or in each of two or more interstage fields, or otherwise, as will hereinafter be described.

In United Kingdom specification No. 473,757, it has been proposed to provide means for sens ing two fields of a record card consecutively, one field being sensed at one sensing operation and the other field beingsensed at the next following sensing operation.

Further, in United States Patent No. 2,290,827 it has been proposed to sense cards punched in two fields both in normal and interstage positions and there isdisclosed therein a sensing mechanism having associated therewith two card stops one locating a card in position for normal sensing and the other for locating the card in position for interstage sensing. ,As described in this prior specification the card stops are operated alternately for each card fed to the Sensing position so that each card is retained first in normal sensingposition for two successive sensing cycles and then in interstage sensing position for two successive sensingcycles.

20 Claims. (Cl. 235-6111) It is sometimes desired that the record cards fed to a statistical machine be so fed that some cards require sensing only in normal fields while others may require sensing in a, normal field and also in an interstage field, and it is an object of the present invention to provide means whereby mixed cards can be fed successively into the machine conditioned automatically to determine the number of sensing cycles during which each card is located in a position for sensing.

According to the invention there is provided a statistical machine comprising in combination record card sensing means, card engaging elements respectively to locate a record card relative to said sensing means in positions at which during different sensing cycles normal or interstage data representations on' a card can. be sensed, and settable means operable under control from the sensing .means to determine the u 5 sensing cycles during which .a card engaging element is rendered effective to locate a card in sensing position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in combination with mechanism mentioned above means whereby one or more normal or interstage fields of a record card can be sensed in successive sensing cycles.

Accordingly the invention also includes selectively operable devices actuated under control from the sensing means to render predetermined sections of the sensing means effective during a sensing operation.

Further, a statistical machine according to the invention may include selector means to condition said settable means for operation.

In one embodiment of the invention the sensing means is driven from the main shaft of the machine and the aforesaid settable means comprises a. control shaft, a clutch device to couple the control shaft to the main shaft, reduction gearing to transmit rotary motion from the main shaft to the control shaft so that the control shaft, is rotated once for a predetermined number of rotations of the main shaft, a trip device to render the clutch device effective to couple the control shaft to the main shaft, said trip device being arranged for actuation by an impulse emitted from the sensing means when a predetermined control indication is detected in a card being sensed, cams on the control shaft, and latching means operable by said cams to control the card engaging elements.

In a further embodiment of the invention the sensing means is driven from the main shaft of the machine and the settable means comprises a first control shaft and a second control shaft, a clutch device for each control shaft whereby the control shafts can be independently coupled to the main shaft, reduction gearing to transmit rotary motion from the main shaft to the control shafts so that the control shafts are rotated once for a predetermined number of rotations of the main shaft, a first trip device to render the clutch device for the first control shaft effective to couple the first control shaft to the main shaft, a second trip device to render the clutch device for the second control shaft effective to couple the second control shaft to the main shaft, said trip devices being arranged for actuation by impulses emitted from the sensing means when predetermined control indioia are detected in a card being sensed, cams on the first and second control shafts, and latching means operable by said cams to control the card engaging elements.

A machine according to the invention can be fields to be sensed separately in successive sensing operations.

(d) Only cards having data punched in interstage data positions the data being contained in two fields to be sensed separately in successive sensing operations.

(6) Cards having data punched in normal and interstage data positions the normal or interstage data cycles being sensed in one sensing operation and when a card contains both normal and interstage data the normal data is sensed in a first sensing cycle and the interstage data in the next succeeding sensing cycle. Some of the cards of a pack may have normal interstage data and the machine will determine automatically whether a particular card is to be retained in sensing position for one or more sensing operations.

(1) Some cards having data punched in normal and interstage data positions some cards having only normal data to be sensed either in one or two stages somecards having a single field of normal data and one or two fields of interstage data and some cards having both normal data in two separate fields and interstage data also in two separate fields. Alternatively the pack may consist entirely of cards havin only one of such forms of data punched therein.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one embodiment thereof will be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which,

Figures 1A and lBtogether illustrate record card sensing means with some of the control mechanism according to the invention applied thereto and having in combination therewith a pre-sensing mechanism,

Figure 2 illustrates the mechanism for operat ing card stops associated with the sensing mechanism and the pro-sensing mechanism,

Figure 3 is a plan of the mechanism located below the card stops shown in Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of latching devices associated with the stops,

Figure 5 illustrates mechanism for operating certain of the card stops shown in Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a plan of the mechanism shown in Figure 5,

Figure 7 is an elevation showing a detail of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 6, this detail having been omitted from Figure 6 for the sake of clarity,

Figure 8 illustrates mechanism for controlling the feeding of cards to the sensing means,

Figure 9 is a plan of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 8, and

is driven by any suitable means, such as an elec-' tric motor, not shown. The shaft I, through gearing not shown, drives a first pin box shaft 2 on which is mounted an eccentric 3, Figure 8, carrying an eccentric strap 4 having secured .thereto a connecting bar 5 the opposite end of 1 which is secured to a knuckle 6 mounted on a pin 1 carried by a lever B freely mounted on a magazine drive shaft 9.

Perforated record cards to be fed into the machine are contained in a magazine I!) and record cards are removed one at a time from the bottom of the pack in the magazine by a picker I I mounted for oscillation beneath the magazine in wellknownmanner. The picker I I is carried by a slide I2 reciprocation of which is efiected by an arm I3 secured to the magazine drive shaft 9. As

v stated above the lever 8 is freely mounted on the shaft 9. A spring 16 acts to return the shaft 5 and slide 12 to the starting position. Thus, when the eccentric 3 operates to effect a feeding operation the lever 8 engages with the pin I4, rocks the shaft 9 and arm I3 thereby movin the slide -I'2 and picker H in a forward direction, that is in a direction to the left as viewed in Figure 8. As indicated in Figure 8 the slide is at the end of its forward stroke.

A card moved out of the magazine by the picker II is received by a pair of feed rollers I! and is delivered thereby into a first or pre-sensing mechanism in which the card is sensed for control holes which control the subsequent operation of cer-- tain parts of the tabulator as is well-known in the art. The card fed by the feed rollers I"! is located in pre-sensing position by a pre-sensing card stop I8 movement of which is controlled by a cam I9, Figure 2, mounted on the shaft 2. The card stop I-8 is guided for movement in a vertical plane by having its lower end passing through a slot in a fixed bar 20 and a spring 2 I is arranged to draw the pro-sensing card stop downwards to its inactive or non-card arresting position. The cam I9 co-operates with a roller 22 carried by an arm 23 pivoted at 24 to the stem of the card stop I8. The arm 23 is provided with an abutment 25 which is drawn into engagement with the stem of the card stop by a spring 26. It is not always required that the picker H and card stop I8 be operated at each cycle of the main shaft I and mechanism hereinafter to be described is provided to render these parts ineffective when it is desired that during one or more cycles of the main shaft they shall be made ineffective.

The card engaged by the pre-sensing card stop I8 is located in a pre-sensing chamber formed by upper and lower plates 21, 28 in known manner and sensing pins indicated diagrammatically at 29, Figure 1A, are contained in a pin box supported for vertical reciprocation by known mechanism not shown, the pin box being actuated from the shaft 2.

The pin box is constructed in a manne similar to that described in United Kingdom specification No. 401,012 and comprises a lower reciprocating portion housing the sensing pins 29 and an upper fixed portion containing intermediate elements 30 and transmission rods 3| similar to the'corresponding parts described in the aforesaid United Kingdom specification No. 401,012. The transmission rods are arranged to operate members, not shown, to control the subsequent functions of the machine,

After the record card has been sensed by the pro-sensing device the pre-sensing card stop I8 is lowered to permit the card to be fed out of the presensing chamber by feed rollers which pass it to further feed rollers arranged to feed the card into a second sensing chamber comprising an upper perforated plate 32 and a lower perforated plate '33 the card being located in this Sensing chamber by one of a pair of card engaging elements shown. as card stops 34, 35. The card stop 34 is arranged to locate the card in a position such that normal data positions 35, Figure 10, can be sensed by sensing pins 31 of the sensing means to be briefly described below. The card stop 35 is arranged to arrest the card in a position such that interstage data representing holes 38, Figure 10, can be sensed by the sensing pins 31.

The sensing mechanism diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 1A comprises a pin box constructed in a manner similar to that described in the aforesaid United Kingdom specification No. 401,012 and includes a lower reciprocating portion carrying the sensing pins 31 and an upper fixed portion. The lower reciprocating portion of the pin box comprises upper and lower pin plates 39 and 40 connected at each end by transverse bars 4|, the plates 39 and 40 being provided in the usual manner with holes for the reception of the sensing pins 31. Each sensing pin 31 has a collar 42 resting on the lower pin plate 40 and has a spring 43 tending to press the pin downwardly. The movable portion of the pin box is reciprocated in well-known manner by mechanism, not shown,

the drive for the pin box being obtained. from a shaft 44, Figure 1B, driven from the main shaft I by mechanism not shown.

In the manner described in United Kingdom specification No. 401,012 the upper fixed part of the pin box includes a plate 45 having holes through which pass intermediate elements 46 each having a head 41 by which the element is suspended from the plate 45. The plate 45 is suspended by two transverse bars 48, which are fixed to the frame of the machine.

Also secured to the transverse bars 48 are two fixed pin plates 59 spaced apart by two further transverse bars 49, the pin plates 50 having holes through which pass transmission rods (corresponding to the rods l8 shown in United Kingdom specification No. 401,012). Each transmission rod 5| has a collar 52 and a spring 53 which pushes it downwards and the lower end of each rod 5| bears on the head 41 of the corresponding intermediate transmission element 46. As described in United Kingdom specification No. 401,012 each intermediate rod 5| is offset with respect to the intermediate transmission element 45 and the corresponding spring 53 tends to rock the transmission element 45 counter-clockwise about its head 41.

In United Kingdom specification No. 401,012 there is described a shutter 25 and in the present construction this shutter 26 is replaced by shutters 54 independent to each column of intermediate transmission elements 45. A control bar 55 carried by arm 56 mounted on a shaft 51' cooperates with slots 55a in the shutters 54 and is provided simultaneously to operate the shutters 54. In some instances, however, it is desired that only a predetermined section of the sensing mechanism be rendered effective during a sensing operation and to this end, in the present construction, there are provided selectively operable devices which include two field selecting shutters 58 and 59 each adapted to control the operation of a predetermined number of the shutters 54; The slots 55a permit the movement of the shutters 54 for one field while movement of the other shutters 54 is obstructed by their associated field selecting shutter 58 or 59 and spring-urged plungers 55b operate to cause the shutters 54 to follow the control bar 55 except when the shutters are prevented from moving by their field selecting shutter. The manner of selection of the shutters 58 and 59 will be described below and each is of a width such that when it is in a substantially horizontal position such as is the shutter 58 shown in Figure 1A it extends across the path of the shutters 54 associated therewith and the operation of which it is to control.

As an example of the association of the field selecting shutters 58, 59 with the shutters 54 it may be assumed that the record cards are of the well known 65 column kind and the field selecting shutter 58 is associated with the shutters 54 for card columns to 40 while the field selecting shutter 59 is associated with the shutters 54 for card columns 4| to 65.

When a field selecting shutter is in a position such as is illustrated by the shutter 59 in Figure 1A the shutters 54 controlled thereby are pre vented from moving to the right as viewed in Figure 1A thereby preventing the corresponding intermediate elements 46 from swinging in a counter-clockwise direction about their heads 41 under the action of springs 53. If, however, the field selecting shutter is in a position such as that indicated in Figure 1A for the shutter 58 then on movement of the shutters 54 associated therewith the intermediate elements 46 swing counterclockwise, the action of these elements being the same as the action of the intermediate elements described in United Kingdom specification No. 401,012. Accordingly, if either the field selecting shutter 58 or 59 is in its lower position then the corresponding columns of intermediate elements 46 cannot operate and the corresponding section of the pin box is rendered ineffective.

When, however, a section of the pin box is permitted to be effective then any sensing pin 31 which has found a hole in the card being sensed will descend until its upper end is below the lower end of the intermediate elements 45 and the latter will swing into engagement with the sensing pin so that on the ensuing up stroke of the movable part of the pin box the sensing pin 37 will push the intermediate element 46 upwards and through the corresponding transmission rod 5| will operate a corresponding wire in a connection box 60. The transmission wires 6! of the connection box are arranged in known manner to control the printing head of the tabulator. The manner in which the transmission wires 6| operate to control the printing head is well-known in the art and it is therefore not considered necessary to enter into an explanation thereof herein. It may, however, be similar to that described in United Kingdom specification No. 454,857 or sim. ilar to that described in United States specification No. 2,290,827.

The settable mechanism according to the invention for selectively operating the card stops will now be described. The card stops 34 and 35 are respectively mounted on stems 62 and 63, Figure 2', and have their lower ends 64 and 65 guided in a cross bar 65 secured to the machine frame. The card stop 34 is urged to its down or ineffective position by a spring 6! and the card stop 35 is similarly urged to ineffective position by a spring 68. The card stops 34, 35 are arranged for independent operation, the card stop 35 being actuated by a cam 69 secured to the shaft 44 and the card stop 34 being operated by a similar cam, not shown, also mounted on the shaft 44 and disposed behind the cam 69 as viewed in Figure 2. The cam 69 co-operates with a roller 10 carried by a bracket 1| secured to the stem 63 .7 and the cam controlling the card stop 34 operates with a similar roller which is carried on a bracket 12 pivoted at 13 to the stem 62. A spring I4 retains the bracket I2 in cam engaging position against a pin I5 extending laterally from the stem 62.

Below the card stops there is provided a unit which determines the operation of the card stops 34 and 35. In this unit there is provided two control shafts consisting of a first control shaft I6 and a second control shaft TI, both control shafts being driven from the main shaft I through a train of gears I8, I9, '30 and BI, see Figure 5. The gear train comprises a 2:1 reduction train so that each of the control shafts I6 and I1 is rotated at one half the angular velocity of the main shaft I. The gears 80 and BI are freely rotatable on their respective control shafts I7 and I5 and these shafts are arranged to be independently coupled to the main shaft by clutch devices as described below.

The gear BI supports two pawls 82 and 83 which are pivoted thereto respectively at 84 and 85. From each of the pawls there extends a lateral pin 86, the pins being located in arcuate slots 81 formed in the gear IlI to be concentric with the axes of the pivots 84, 85 and the pawls are controlled by springs 83. Each pawl is provided with a nose 89 capable of engaging a shoulder 90 on a snail-cam shaped clutch member 9| fixed to the first control shaft 1 0. Normally the pawls 82 and 83 are tripped so that their noses 89 do not engage the shoulder 90 during rotation of the gear BI the tripping being effected by a first trip device including a trip member 92 fixed on a trip spindle =93. When the unit is inoperative the trip member 92 occupies the position shown in Figure 5 so that the tooth 94 provided thereon is engaged by a tail 95 on a pawl. Each pawl has a tail 95 and on engagement of the tail with the tooth 94 the pawl is rotated about its pivot against the action of its spring 89 and is tripped so that its nose B9 is not engaged with the shoulder 90 of the clutch member 9|. When, however, as will be described below, the trip member 92 is moved from its tripping position the first pawl to pass the tripping position will have its nose 89 engaged with the shoulder 90 so that the control shaft I6 is rotated with the gear 8| and is coupled to the main shaft I. The control shaft I5, when coupled to the main shaft, is rotated once during two complete revolutions of the main shaft I and controls the operation of the card stops 34, 35 as will be described below.

The gear 89 also supports two pawls 82 and 83 and a clutch member 9| is also secured to the control shaft 1! so that this shaft also can be caused to rotate one cycle for two revolutions of the main shaft. The pawls on the gear 80, however, are controlled by a second trip device which includes a trip member 96 secured to a trip spindle 91. As will be described below the control shaft TI is selectively rendered effective when interstage data positions are to be sensed.

Actuation of the control shafts is determined by control holes punched in the card being sensed in the sensing chamber formed by the plates 32, 33 and the control shafts are conditioned for operation during the first sensing cycle in which the card receives its first sensing. Thus if during the first sensing cycle a control hole is sensed indicating that the card is to remain in the same sensing position for a second sensing cycle the sensing pin 31 which passes through the control hole will operate its associated transmission wire BI in the connection box to actuate a bell crank 98, Figure 1A, by rotating it counter-clockwise about its pivot 99. The pivot 99 comprises a pin supported by a bracket I00 fixed to the frame of the machine, and a spring IOI retains the bell crank in the position shown in Figure 1A. On counter-clockwise movement of the bell crank 98 a Bowden wire I02 is actuated and rocks an arm I03, Figures 13 and 5, secured to the trip spindle 93.

When actuated by the Bowden wire I02 the arm I03 is rocked clockwise against the action of a spring 264 thus causing the trip member 92 also to be rocked clockwise so that its tooth 94 is movedout of the path of the tail 95 of the pawl 82 or 83 which is at that time approaching the trip member 92. With the trip member moved out of its tripping position the pawl will not be tripped and its nose 89 will be engaged with the shoulder 90 of the clutch member 9I thus coupling the control shaft I6 to the main shaft I.

Under control from the control shaft I6 there is provided latching means to retain a card stop 34, 35 in card locating position or to retain it in an ineffective position. The latching means includes a cam I04, Figure 4, on control shaft 16, the cam I04 engaging a roller I05, Figure 2, carried by a lever I09 pivoted at I01 to a block I03 secured to the machine frame. The lever I06 is urged counter-clockwise by a spring 253 so that its upper end is moved beneath the lower end 64 of the stem 62 supporting the card stop 34 thus preventing the downward movement of the card stop and thereby retaining the card located thereby in sensing position for a second sensing cycle.

Also secured to the control shaft 16 is a further cam I09, Figure 2, which engages a roller III) carried on a second lever III pivoted at II2 to the block I98. The lever III is also controlled by the spring 263, being urged thereby in a clockwise direction so that its upper end is disposed beneath the lower end portion 35 of ,the stem 63 supporting the card stop 35. The timing of the cams I04 and I09 is such that they operate simultaneously to permit the levers I06, III to move inwards under the influence of the spring 263 or they act simultaneously to move the levers out of the paths of the lower ends 64, 65 of the stems 62, 63 carrying the stops 34, 35. The operation of the levers I06 and III will be described in more detail hereinafter together with other elements of the latching means for the card stops 34, 35.

The field selecting shutters 58 and 59 are also controlled from the control shaft 18 this being effected by two cams H3 and H4 secured to the control shaft I6, Figure 1B. The cam H3 is engaged by a roller supported by a bell crank II5 pivoted on a spindle H5 and having connected thereto a link I H the upper end of which is connected to an arm IIB, Figure 1A, mounted on a spindle II9 to which the field selecting shutter 58 is secured. The cam II4 co-operates with a roller carried by a second bell crank I20 also pivoted on the spindle H9 this bell crank being connected with one end of a link I2I the other end of which is connected with the shutter 59 which is freely mounted on the spindle H9. The cams H3 and H4 are so timed that when one of the shutters 58 or 59 is in its lower or effective position the other is in its upper of ineffective position.

The field selecting shutters 58 and 59 are, as described above, operated automatically from the control shaft I6 but for certain operations it is desired to be able manually to condition the shutters. To this end the shutter 58 has a tail piece 258 from which extends a lateral pin 25I engageable by a downwardly projecting plate 252 secured to a link"253 mounted for lengthwise movement under control of a spring 254. At one end of the link 253 there is provided a slot 255 in which is housed-a pin 256 extending laterally from a lever 251 pivoted at 258 to a bracket 259 secured to the frame of the machine. The pin 256 retains the link 253 and lever 251'in desired relation and the slot 255 is provided to permit adjustment of the link relative to the lever.

The top of the bracket 259 is of arcuate form and is provided with two slots 268 and 26I in one or other of which can be located a spring controlled pin 262 supported by the lever 251. When the lever 251 is in the position shown in Figure 1A the link 253 is in its withdrawn position, that is, it has been moved fully to the right as viewed in Figure 1A so that the pin 25I is not engaged by the plate 252 and the field selecting shutter 58 is conditioned for control by the cam II4. With the lever 251 in the position just described the field selecting shutter 59 will be moved to its effective position during a secondsensing cycle performed. on a card which has been-retained in sensing position as a result of the operation of the control shaft 16 and when the shutter 59 is effective only those shutters 54 which are controllable by the shutter 58 will be permitted tooperate in the manner described above.

If, however, it is desired that the whole of a card be sensed during the first sensing cycle then the lever 251 is moved counter-clockwise until the pin 262 is registered in the slot 268 when the plate 252 will cause the field selecting shutter 58 to be raised so thatduringthe first sensing cycle both the field selecting shutter 58 and the field selecting shutter 59 will be in the raised position with the result that all of the shutters 54 are free to operate and the whole of the card, either in normal positions or in interstage positions, is sensed in the one sensing operations Also on the control shaft 16 is a further cam I22, Figures 2 and 3, which is engaged by a follower carried on an arm I23 fixed to a spindle I24, the spindle I24 being urged in a clockwise direction by a further arm I25 secured thereto and a spring I26. The spindle I24 also has secured thereto a latch I21, Figure 5, having a tooth I28 which is normally located out ofv the path of the pawls 82, 83 carried by the gear 88. The purpose of -the latch I21 is to act as a delay device to delay the coupling of the second control. shaft 11 to the main shaft when the trip members 92, 96 are simultaneously operated as will be hereinafter described. The delay device thus ensures that the control shafts I6, 11 are coupled tothe main shaft I in the desired timed relation.

The trip member 96 is also operated by a control hole punched in the card being sensed and i's'moved out of the path of the pawls 82, 83 carried by the gear 88 when, during the first sensing cycle in-respect of a card this second control hole is sensed. When the appropriate sensing pin 31 passes through this last mentioned control hole it operates its associated transmission wire 6| and this wire actuates a second bell cranksimilarto the bell crank 98 described above. The said second bell crank is also mounted on the spindle 99 and is disposed behind the bell crank 98 as viewed in Figure 1A. Actuation of said second bell crank 98 operates a second Bowden wire I29 and the Bowden wire I29 rocks a swinging abutment I38, Figures 5 and 8, into engagement with a pin I3I extending laterally from an arm I32 secured to the trip spindle 91. The trip spindle 91 being thus rocked causes the trip member 96 to be moved out of the path of the pawls 82, 83 carried by the gear 88.

The swinging abutment I38 is pivoted at I33 to a plate I34 pivoted at I35 to theframe of the machine. One end of the plate I34 is in the form of a segment and is provided with three detents I36, I31 and I38 any one of which can co-operate with a pin I39 extending laterally from a lever I48 pivoted at I4I to the frame of the machine. A link I42 is connected to the plate I34 and to an arm I43 secured to a spindle I44 mounted in a bracket I45 secured to the machine frame. A further arm I46 is also secured to the spindle I44 and is connected to one end of a link I41 the other end of which is connected at I48 to one arm of a bell crank I49 which is pivoted at I58 to the frame of the machine. The other arm of the bell crank I49 has at its upper end an adjusting member I5I, of known construction, which includes a pin I52 acting against a spring, not shown, the pin being adapted to be inserted into one or other of three slots I53, I54 and I formed in the top of the frame.

When the control unit is conditioned to operate on cards containing data punched only in normal data positions, the pin I52 of the adjusting member I5I is located in the slot I53 and the plate I34 occupies the position shown in Figure 8. In this position the swinging abutment I38 is raised so that the portion I38a cannot engage the pin I3I on the arm I32. If, however, the sensing pins 31 of the sensing mechanism are to sense data punched only in interstage data positions, the pin I52 is positioned in the slot I54 and the plate I34 is then moved so that the detent I31 is engaged by the pin I39. When the plate I34 is in this position the swinging abutment I38 is so disposed that'the portion I38w is not engaged with the pin I3I on the arm I32 if the Bowden wire is actuated as a result of a control hole being sensed during a first sensing operation on a card.

data punched in normal data positions is sensed during a first sensing cycle and this cycle is to be followed by a sensing cycle during which data punched in interstage data positions is to be sensed as a result of the sensing of a control hole sensed during the first sensing cycle, the pin I52 is located in the slot I55 and the plate I 34 is then moved to a position at which the detent I38 is engaged by the pin I39. When the plate I34 occupies this position the swinging abutment I38 is so positioned that the part I3la of the abutment can be engaged with the pin I3I on the arm I 32 when the Bowden wire I 29 is actuated.

Also on th first control shaft 16 is secured a cam I56, Figure 8, which co-operates with a roller I51 on a lever I58 pivoted at I59 to the machine frame. A similar cam I68'is secured to the second control shaft 11 and is engaged by a roller I6I on a lever I62 pivoted at I63 to the machine frame. The upper ends of the levers I58 and I62 are arranged respectively to engage pins I64 and- I65 extending laterally from a bar I66 slidably mounted on pins I61 and I68 which are located 11 in slots I69 and I10 formed in the bar I55. The bar [66 is urged to the left, as viewed in Figure 8, by a spring III and on actuation of either of the cams I56 or I60 the bar I59 is moved to the right as viewed in Figure 8.

A pin I'I2 extending laterally from the bar I56 is located in a slot I13 formed in a lever I14 secured to a spindle I15. To the upper end of the lever I14 is connected one end of a link I15 the other end of which is connected to a latch I'II having a notch I18 formed therein for engagement with a nose I19 extending laterally from an arm I80 secured to the magazine feed shaft 9. Thus each time the control shaft I5 or 11 is operated, thus indicating that a card is being retained in sensing position for a second sensing cycle, the bar I65 is moved to the right, as viewed in Figure 8, thereby causing the notch I18 in the latch I'II to be moved into, the path of the nose. I19 on the arm I80. When this occurs the shaft 9 is pre-, vented from being rocked to effect the feeding of 'a further card from the magazine I although the eccentric 3 continues to, function as it is driven from the main shaft I. This is permitted due to the arm}! being moved freely on the shaft 3 so that it does not engage the pin I4 to effect a rocking operation of the shaft 9.

Also mounted on the spindle H is a lever I8I, Figure 2, which, when the spindle I is rocked as above described, has its upper end moved into position beneath the lower end of the stem carrying the card stop I8 for the pro-sensing mechanism above described. Thus, when the lever I8I is in position beneath the card stop I8 the latter is prevented from being lowered to release a card from the card chamber of the first sensing mechanism and consequently this card remains in the sensing chamber until the lever I8I is restored to the position shown in Figure 2.

When during the operation of the machine interstage data positions are to be sensed by the sensing pins 31 the card stop 34 is to be latched in its down or. ineffective position and to this end there is provided on the control shaft I'I two cams I82 and I-83, Figure 2, the cam I82 engaging a roller 184 carried by a lever I85-pivoted at I86, the upper end of the lever I85 being arranged to engages. pin I81 extending laterally from a plate I88 extending downwards from a slide I89, hereinafter referred to. as a third slide, having integral therewith an upstanding abutment I90 which is movable beneath a projection shown as a plate I! secured to the stem 53 of the cardstop 35. The. third slide I89 is guided for lengthwise movement by combs I92, I93 secured to the bars and 65 respectively.

The cam I83 engages with a roller I91, Figures 3 and 4, mounted on an arm I98 also pivoted on the Spindle. I85. The upper end of the arm I93 engages a pin I99 on a depending plate 200 secured to. a slide 20I-, hereinafter referred to as a second slide. The slide 20I is also guided for lengthwise movement by the combs I92 and I93. Integral with the second slide 20I and extending upwards therefrom is a latch 202 to engage a latch plate 203 secured to the stem 62 supporting the card stop 34.

A link 20.4, Figure 2, is connected at one end to th arm I98 and at its other end to an arm 205 secured to the spindle I41- Thus, although the operation of the second slide MI is controllable by the cam I83 it is also controllable by the bell crank I49, links I41, I42 and plate I34 so that when the detent I31 on plate I34 is engaged by thepin I39 on lever I40 the arm I99. is rocked to 12' he ri ht. a ewed in Figure and h Se ond. slide MI is moved into latching position under the action of a spring I95.

A further slide 206,, hereinafter referred to as a first slide, is mounted for lengthwise movement between the combs I92 and I93 and has a downwardly depending plate 201 and a pin 2 08 extend: ing laterally therefrom. The pin 208 is engageable by the upper end of a lever 209 pivoted on the spindle I01 and the lever 209 carries a cam roller 2 I9 which engages with a cam 2 I I, Figures 3 and 4., on the control shaft I9. 255 also has an upstanding latch 266, Figure 4, similar to the latch 202 and is adapted, under control of cam 21 I, to be engaged with the latch plate 203.

When the control shafts I5 and I1 are idle they are retained in starting position by discs 2 I2 and 213, Figure 7, secured respectively to the control shafts I6, 11, the discs2 I2, 2 I3 respectively hav-. ing pins 2H, 2I5 extending laterally therefrom and engageable in V-shaped notches 2I8, 2II in detent levers 2I8, 2I9 each pivoted on a spindle 229. The levers 2I8, 2I9 are urged upwards to latching position by springs 22I.

In order that the operation of the apparatus above described may be clearly understood the various functions which can be performed thereby will now be described.

Simultaneous sensing of all normal data indicate ing positions.

When all normal data indicating positions on a card are to be simultaneously sensed in a single sensing cycle and no interstage sensing is required the card is not provided with a control hole indicating that the card is to be retained in normal sensing position for a second sensing cycle and when each of the cards fed to the ma chine is to be sensed once only the first control shaft I6 is not clutched to the main shaft I during the operation of the machine as in such circumstances the Bowden wire I02 is never actuated. The cards, or some of them, may however'be punched. in interstage positions and may be provided with a control hole to cause actuation of the Bowden wire I29. Since, however, the cards are not to be sensed in interstage positions the machine is conditioned to prevent the coupling of the control shaft 1'! to the main shaft I. To

this end the bell crank I49 is set to the position shown in Figure 8 in which the pin I52 islocated in the slot I53. The plate I34 is then positioned so that the pin I39 is housed in the detent I35 thereby raising the part I30a of the swinging abutment I30 out of the path of the pin I3I on the arm I32 so that'even if the Bowden wire I29 should be actuated the arm I32 will not be rocked as a result thereof and consequently the second control shaft 11 will not be clutched to the main shaft I.

Also before starting up the machine the lever 25! is positioned so that the pin 25I is located in the slot 260 thereby causing the field selecting shutter 58 to be raised to a position similar to that occupied in Figure 1A by the field selecting shutter 59. Thus, both the field selecting shutter 59 and the field selecting shutter 59 are retained in raised or ineffective position and during each I sensing cycle all of the shutters 54 are effective.

When the machine is started up, a card is fed from the magazine I0 into the pre-sensing mechanism where it is arrested and located in the sensing chamber by the card stop I8; the stop being actuated by the cam I9 on the shaft '2.

The first slide.

After the Dre-sensing operation is completed the cam I9 permits the stop I8 to be lowered so that the card is fed out of the pre-sensing chamber and into the second sensing chamber formed by the plates 32, 33 where it is arrested and located in the sensing chamber by the card stop 34 operated under control of its associated cam secured to the shaft 44. The card stop 35 will also be raised by its cam 69 on shaft 44 but as it is located behind the stop 34 it is ineffective and it is lowered together with the card stop 34 when the card has been sensed, the card then being fed out of the sensing chamber. It will be understood that, when the machine is conditioned to operate as just described, the card stop 35 although being actuated together with the card stop 34 is never effective to arrest a card in sensing position. Further, as each of the field selecting shutters 58, 59 is ineffective during the sensing cycle all of the normal data indicating positions of a card located in the sensing chamber by the card stop 34 are simultaneously sensed during a single sensing cycle and successive cards are sensed during successive sensing cycles.

Simultaneous sensing of all interstage data indicating positions When all interstage data indicating positions on a card are to be sensed simultaneously in a single sensing cycle the card is not provided with a control hole indicating that the card is to be retained in interstage sensing position for a second sensing cycle and when each of the cards fed to the machine is to be sensed once only the first controlshaft 16 is not clutched to the main shaft during the operation of the machine to cause the card to be retained in sensing position for a second sensing cycle.

As, however, only interstage data indicating positions are to be sensed the card stop 34 must be rendered inefiective at all times. To this end the bell crank I49 is positioned so that the pin I52 is located in the slot I54. In this position of the bell crank I49 the plate I34 is moved so that the detent I3! is engaged by the pin I39. The lever I40 is moved clockwise and rocks the arm 205 so that the link 204 is moved to the right, as viewed in Figure 2. The upper end of the lever I98 is moved by the link 204 out of engagement with the pin I99 depending from the second slide -20I so that the second slide is moved to the right,

as viewed in Figure 2, under the action of its spring I96 and the latch 202 on the second slide is thus moved into position to be engaged with the latch plate 203 so that the stem 62 is latched in its down position. Thus although the cam for the card stop 34 is rotated together with the cam 69 on the shaft 44 the card stop 34 is not operated because, during each lifting movement of its associated cam, instead of the stem 62 being raised by the'cam the bracket I2 will be turned about its pivot I3 against the action of spring 14 while the card stop 34 is retained in its ineffective posi tion by the engagement of the latch 202 on the second slide 20I with the latch plate 203 on the stem 62.

It will therefore, be understood that when the machine is conditioned by the pin I52 on bell crank I49 being positioned in the slot I54 the card stop 34 is permanently ineffective and the card stop 35 is actuated during each cycle of the main shaft I to locate a card in interstage data sensing position and to release the card from the sensing chamber after a single sensing cycle.

Asithe whole of the interstage data positions are to be sensed simultaneously the lever 251 is moved to the position in which its pin 262 is located in the slot 260 so that the field selecting shutter 58 is rendered ineffective and is raised out of the path of its associated shutters 54. Accordingly, during each sensing cycle all of the shutters 54 are effective.

Sensing normal data indicating positions in two card fields, the fields being sensed in successive cycles When cards are punched in normal data indicating positions and the data is contained in two fields each to be sensed'during different sensing cycles, the first field to be sensed contains a control hole indicating that the card is to be retained in normal sensing position by the card stop 34 for a second sensing cycle.

The card may also contain interstage data in which event it may also be provided in the first sensed normal field with a control hole indicating that the second normal sensing cycle is to be followed by an interstage sensing cycle. Since, however, no interstage sensing is to be eiiected the machine is conditioned by moving the bell crank I49 to the position shown in Figure 8 so that the pin I52 is located in the slot I53. With bell cranks I49 in this position the pin I39 is located in the detent I36 in plate I34 and the swinging abutment I30 is moved to a position such that the part l30a will not engage with the pin I 3| on the arm I32 on actuation of the Bowden wire I29. Thus although the Bow'den wire I29 may be actuated during the operation of the machine the arm I32 is not rocked and accordingly the second control shaft I1 is not clutched to the main shaft I of the machine.

The machine is further conditioned by moving the lever 251 to the position shown in Figure 1A in which position of the lever the pin 262 is located in the slot 26!. With the lever 25! in this position the plate 252 is moved out of engagement with the pin 25I on the tail piece 250 of the field selecting shutter 58 so that the shutter is conditioned for actuation under control from the first control shaft 16.

When the machine is set in operation a card is fed from the magazine I0 to the pre-sensing mechanism as described above, and after being sensed therein is fed into the second sensing mechanism where it is arrested and located in sensing position by the card stop 34. The movable part of the pin box containing the sensing pins 31 is then moved downwards to sense the first field of the card, the shutters 54 for the second field being controlled and rendered ineffective by the field selecting shutter 58 which is then in the position shown in Figure 1A. During the first sensing cycle a sensing pin 31 senses the control hole mentioned above and, through its associated transmission wire GI, operates the bell crank 98 which in turn actuates the Bowden wire I02 thus rocking the arm I03 in a clockwise direction and moving the trip member 92 out of the path of the tails 95 of the pawls 83, 84 carried by the gear 3|. Thus, the nose 89 of one of the pawls is moved into engagement with the shoulder 90 of the clutch member 9| and the first control shaft I6 is clutched to the main shaft I to be rotated thereby, the pin 2I4 being gilzaved out of the notch 2I5 in the detent lever' The first control shaft 16 when clutched to the main shaft I is rotated at one-half the angular velocity of the main shaft and when it has completed one revolution, as the bell crank 98 is not again actuated during the next succeeding sensing cycle, the pin. 2I4, is again located in the slot 216 formed in detent lever 2I8, the trip member 92 havingbeen. restored, into the path of the tails 95 of the pawls 83, 84 by the spring 264.

As a result of the setting in operation of the first oontrokshaitlfi, the. cams I04 and H19, Figure- 4, permit levers, I06.- and III both to-move inwards under the action of spring 263 so that their upper ends are respectively disposed beheath. the-lower. ends 64. and 6.5 of the stems 62 andzfifi which support the card stops 34 and 35.

so that instead of, being lowered after the first sensing operation iscompleted the card stops 3'4.

and are maintained in raised position and thestopM. continues to locate the card in sensing position. The, cam ZII operates the lever 209 so that. the firstslide 29.6. is moved to the right,

asviewedinFigure 2, andthe latch 266 carried.

thereby is moved to latching position. Since, however, the card, stop,314. is retained in its upper positionby. the lever I06. the latch 266 does not. become effective, the .latch plate 203 beingretained inposition above the. latch 2.66.

.The cams Band I I4, Figure IE, on the first control shaft it; become operative-on rotation of.

thisshaft andafter the first sensing operation is, completed actuate. the links Ill and I2I so that the field selecting shutter 53. is moved downwards-to render ineffective its associated shutters fiiwhile the fieldselecting shutter 58 is raised by thelink. I21 so as to permit theshutters 54 associated therewith .to become efiective during the second sensing cycle. Thus, during the second sensing, cycle the pins 31 are effective only over that cardfieldjwhich is controlled by shutters 54 andthefieldselectlng. shutter 58.

As the card is. being retained in sensing position for, asecond sensing, cycle, the cardfeed mustbe rendered 'ine'fl'ective otherwise a card will be fed from the magazineduring the second sensing cycle and this, it will. be understood, is not required." Accordingly the cam I55, Figure 8, on. the first control shaft 76'operates the lever. I58- by preventing the card. stop I8 from being lowered. As the cam I9 is again rotated during the second sensing cycle, the roller 22 and arm. 23 are raised about the pivot .24 against the action. of spring 26 and the cam I9 is thus rendered ineffective during the second sensing cycle.

It will be understood that towards the end of the second sensing cycle the first control shaft 16 reaches aposition at, which the levers I and I I I are,restoredtc.theirstarting positions, and :the links .Il'l, IEI restore. the field selecting shutters 53, 59; to, their starting positions.

magazine..feedis-permitted-to feed a card from the.- magazine .to the-pre-sensing mechanism, and

The first slide- Zfldis, restored so,.,that. the latch 26% is moved to its ineffective position, thelatch H1 is again restored so that during the next machine cycle the,

the lever IN is also restored to its-starting posi tionas shown in Figure 2.

At the end of the revolution of the firstcontrol shaft 13 the pin 2 I4 is again moved into engagement with its slot ZIB in the detent lever 2I8' and the control shaft 16 is rendered inefiective. It will, however, be understood that the control'shaft 16 will again be rendered eiiective during the first sensing operation performed on the next-succeeding card if this cardshould contain the appropriate control hole for effecting actuation of the Bowden Wire I02.

Sensing interstage dataindicating positions in two card fields, the fi lds being sensed in successive sensing cycles When cards are punched in interstage dataindicating positions and the data is contained in two fields each to be sensed during difierent sensing cycles, the first field to be sensed contains a control hole indicating that the card is to be retainedin interstage sensingposition by the card stop 35 for a second sensing cycle.

Before setting the machine in operation it is conditioned by moving the bellcrank l49'so that the pin I52 is located'in the slot I54. In this position of the bell crank I49 the plate I34 is moved so that the detent I3'I'is engaged by the pin H9. The lever I40 is moved clockwise and rocks the arm 2% so that the link 204 is moved to. the right, as viewed in Figure 2-. The upper end of the lever I98 is moved by the link 204 out ofengagement with thepin I99 depending from the second slide Mi so that the second slide is moved to the right, as viewed in FigureZ, under the actionof its spring I and the latch 202on the second slide is thus moved into a position to be engaged with the latching plate: 203'so that the stem 62 is latched in its down position; Thus although the cam for the card stop 34-is rotated together with the cam :69 on the shaft 44 the-card stop 34 is not operated because, during each lifting movement of its associated cam, instead of the stem 52 being raised :by thecam the'bracket 72 will be turned about its pivot 73 against the action of spring. M while the card stop 34 is'retained in its ineiiective position 'bythe engagement of the latch 202 on the second slide ZBI with the latch plate 203 on the stem 62.

The machine is further conditionedby moving the lever. 25? to the position shown in Figure 1A in which position of the lever the pin 262 is located in slot 2t I. With the lever 25'! in this position the plate 252 is moved out of engagement with the pin 25I on the tailpiece 250 of th'e'field selecting shutter 58 so that the shutter'is conditioned for actuation under control from the first control shaft 16.

When the machine is set in operati'on'a card'is fed from. the magazine It to the pro-sensing. mechanism, .as'described above, and after'being sensed therein is fed into the second sensing mechanism where it is arrested and located in sensing position by the'card stop 35. The-movable part of the pin box containing the sensing. pins 31 is then moved downwards to sense the first field of the card, the shutters 54 for the second field being controlled and rendered-ineffective by: the field selectingshutter 53 which is then in the position shown in Figure 1A.- During the first sensing cycle asensing pin 31 senses the control hole mentioned above and, through its associated transmission-wire BI, operates the bellcrank'98' which in turn actuates' the Bowden-wire I 02 -thu's.= rocking the arm a I I13 and moving-the trip member 17 92 out of the path of the tails 95 of the pawls 83, 84 carried by the'gear 8|. Thus the nose 89 of one of the pawls is moved into engagement with the shoulder 90 of the clutch member 9| and the first control shaft I6 is clutched to the main shaft I to be rotated thereby, the pin 2I4 being moved out of the notch 2 I 6 in the detent lever 2 I8.

The first control shaft I6 when clutched to the main shaft l is rotated at one-half the angular velocity of the main shaft and when it has completed one revolution, as the bell crank 98 is not again actuated during the next succeeding sensing cycle, the pin 2| 4 is again located in the slot 2I6 formed in detent lever 2 [8, the trip member 92 having been restored into the path of the tails 95 of the pawls 83, 84 by the spring 264.

As a result of the setting in operation of the first control shaft 16, the cams I04 and I09, Figure 4, permit levers I06 and III both to move inwards under the action of spring 263. The upper end of lever III is then disposed beneath the lower end 65 of the stem 63 supporting the card stop 35 so that instead of being lowered after the first sensing operation the card stop 35 is retained in raised position and continues to locate the card in sensing position.

The card stop 34, however, is latched in its down or ineffective position by the latch 202 on the second slide 2M and the inward movement of the lever I06 is arrested by the upper end of the lever abutting against the lower end 64 of the stem 62 supporting the card stop 34. To accommodate this arresting of the lever I06 the spring 263 stretches. v

The cams H3 and H4, Figure IE, on the first control shaft I6 become operative on rotation of this shaft and after the first sensing operation is completed actuate the links I I1 and I2I so that the field selecting shutter 58 is moved upwards to render effective its associated shutters 54 while the field selecting shutter 59 is lowered by the link I2l so as to permit the shutters 54 associated therewith to become ineffective during the second sensing cycle. Thus, during the second sensing cycle the pins 31 are effective only over that card field which is controlled by shutters 54 and the field selecting shutter 58.

As the card is being retained in sensing position for a second sensing cycle, the card feed must be rendered inefiective otherwise a card will be fed from the magazine during the second sensing cycle and this, it will be understood, is not required. Accordingly the cam I56, Figure 8, on the first control shaft 16 operates the lever I58 which engages the pin I64 and thereby moves the bar I66 to the right as viewed in Figure 7. This movement of the bar I66 rocks the bar I14 together with the link I16 and thereby moves the latch I11 into latching engagement with the nose I79 thereby, as earlier described, preventing the feeding operation of the magazine feed tooth I I.

The actuation of lever I'I4 rocks the spindle I15 and moves the upper end of the lever beneath the lower end of the stem carrying the card stop I9 of the pre-sensing mechanism thereby preventing the card stop l8 from being lowered. As the cam I9 is again rotated during the second sensing cycle, the roller 22 and arm 23 are raised about the pivot 24 against the action of spring 26 and the cam I9 is thus rendered ineffective during the second sensing cycle.

It will be understood that towards the end of the second sensing cycle the first control shaft 16 reaches a position at which the levers I06 and III are restored to their starting positions, and

the links I I1, I2I restore the field selecting shutters 58, 59 to their starting position. The first slide 206 is restored so that the latch 266 is moved to its ineffective position but since the latch plate 203 is engaged by the latch 202 on the second slide 20I the card stop 34 remains latched in ineffective position.

The latch IT! is also again restored so that during the next machine cycle the magazine feed is permitted to feed a card from the magazine to the pre-sensing mechanism, and the lever I8I is also restored to starting position as shown in Figure 2.

At the end of the revolution of the first control shaft I6 the pin 2I4 is again moved into engagement with its slot 2I6 in the detent lever 2|8 and the control shaft I6 is rendered ineffective. It will, however, be understood that the control shaft 716 will be rendered effective during the first sensing operation performed on the next succeeding card if this card should contain the appropriate control hole for effecting actuation of the Bowden wire I 02.

Simultaneous sensing of all normal data positions followed Hy simultaneous sensing of all interstage data positions in the same card.

For this method of operation the machine is conditioned by moving the bell crank I49 so that the pin I52 is located in the slot I55. With the bell crank in this position the plate I34 is moved thereby so that the pin I39 is located in the detent I38. This causes the part I30a of the swinging abutment I30 to be positioned for engagement with the pin I3I on the arm I32 so that when the Bowden wire I29 is actuated it causes the arm I32 to be rocked as described below.

As during the sensing of the normal and interstage data positions the whole of such positions are to be sensed simultaneously the machine is further conditioned by moving the lever 251 so that the pin 262 is located in the slot 260. The field selecting shutter 58 is thus raised out of the path of its associated shutters 54 so that during each sensing cycle the whole of the data positions, either normal positions or interstage positions, are sensed simultaneously as has been previously described.

The card which is to be twice sensed, first in normal positions and. then in interstage positions, is provided with a control hole in the normal field. This control hole during the sensing of the normal data positions is sensed by a sensing pin 31 which passes therethrough and operates the transmission wire 6I associated therewith to rock the bell crank 98 which actuates the Bowden wire I29. Actuation of the Bowden Wire I29 rocks the part I30a of the swinging abutment I30 into engagement with the pin I3I and arm I32 thereby rocking the spindle 91 so that the trip member 96 is moved clockwise out of the path of the tails 95 provided on the pawls carried by the gear thus freeing the pawls so that one of them engages the clutch member 9| on the shaft 91 and clutches the second control shaft TI to the main shaft I.

When the card is fed into the sensing chamber formed by the plates 32, 33 it is first located in the sensing chamber by the card stop 34 which at this time together with the card stop 35 is raised to the position shown in Figure 2 under control of the cams on shaft 44. While the card is located in sensing position by the card stop 34 the movable'part of the pin box is lowered to sense the normal data positions in the card and is thereafter again raised as has been previously described. As has just been described above, however, during this sensing operation a control hole was sensed with the result that the Bowden wire I29 was actuated and the second control shaft 11 becomes clutched to the main shaft I towards the end of the sensing cycle during which the normal data positions are sensed.

On rotation of the second control shaft 11 the cams I32 and I83 rock the levers I85 and I98 clockwise so that the third slide I39 and the second slide 23 are moved to the right'as viewed in Figure 2. This occurs before the cams on shaft 44 operate to permit the lowering of the card stops 34 and 35 and the movement of the third slide I89 causes the upstanding abutment I90 to be moved beneath the plate I3I so that the card stop 35 is supported thereby in its raised position. The operation of the second slide however, moves the latch 202 carried thereby to the right so that when the card stop 34 is lowered the latch plate 203 carried on the stem 52 is moved past the latch 262 and is held in latched position thereby. The downward movement of the card stop 34 permits the card in the sensing chamber to be moved forwardly until it is arrested and located in sensing position by the raised card stop so that during the next sensing operation the sensing pins 31 sense all of the interstage data positions in the card.

Also on the second control shaft 11 is the cam I 68 and this operates during the first sensing cycle to move the lever I62 clockwise thereby effecting movement of'the bar I65 to the right,

as viewed in Figure 8, so that the link I15 is operated to move the latch I11 into latching engagement with the nose I19 on the arm I80 secured to the magazine feed shaft. This, as de scribed above, prevents the feeding of a card from the magazine In during the second sensing cycle. The actuation of the bar I56 also, through lever I14, rocks spindle I15 and the lever IBI secured thereto so that the upper end of the lever I8I is positioned beneath the lower end of the stem supporting the card stop I8 for the pro-sensing mechanism so that the card stop I8 is retained in its effective position for a second cycle.

Sensing of normal data positions in two sensing operations followed by sensing of interstagc data positions two sensing operations The card containing two fields each having normal data positions and two fields each having interstage data positions is provided in the first sensed normal field with a control hole which indicates that the card is to be retained in normal sensing position for a second sensing cycle. The first normal field also contains a control hole which indicates that the second sensing cycle is to be followed by an interstage sensing cycle. The first interstage field to be sensed contains a control hole which indicates that a second interstage sensing cycle is required.

The machine is conditioned by moving the bell crank I43 so that the pin I52 is located in the slot I thereby operating the links I41, I42 to move the plate I34 about its pivot I35 so that the pin I39 is located in the detent I33 to position the part I 36a of the swinging abutment I30 for engagement with the pin I3I on arm H32 when Bowden wire I29 is actuated.

The lever 251 is positioned so that the pin 262 is located in the slot 26I and the field selecting shutter 58 is moved to the position shown in Figure 1A to render ineffective the slides 54 associated therewith.

When the card is fed into the sensing chamber formed by the plates 32 and 33 it is arrested by the card stop 34 which, together with the card stop 35, at this time is under control of the cams on shaft 44 and the two card stops are in theraised position as indicated in Figure 2-. During'the first sensing cycle the card field corresponding to the columns controlled by the field selecting shutter58 is sensed by the sensing pins 31 associated with that field and the appropriate one of these pins detects the presence of the control hole in this field calling for a second cycle during which the card remains located in sensing position by the stop 34 and the second normal field is sensed. Detection of the control hole causes actuation of the appropriate transmission wire BI which rocks the bell crank lever 98 and actuates the Bowden wire M12 a sociated therewith. Actuation of the B owden wire I02 rocks the arm I93 and moves the trip member 92 out of the path of the tails 95 on the pawls 83, 84 supported by the gear 3!. Thus, the first pawl to approach the shoulder so formed on the clutch member 9| after the trip member 92 has been rendered ineffective engages with the shoulder 90 and clutches the first control shaft is to the main shaft I. The first control shaft 15 is thus set in motion during the first sensing cycle and before the end of the first sensing cycle the cams Hi4, I09 permit the levers I65, IN t be moved inwards by the spring 263 so that the upper ends of the levers are moved respectively beneath the lower end portions 54 and 55-01 the stems 62, 63 supporting the card stops 34, 35. The levers I05, III retain the card stops 34 and 35 in their raised position until the second normal field has been sensed during the second sensing operation.

Prior to the movable part of the sensing box being lowered for the second sensing operation, however, the cams H3, H4, Figure 1B, acting I through levers H5, I20 actuate links II1, I2I

so that the field selecting shutter 59 is moved to its lower position to render ineffective its associated slides 54, and the. field selecting shutter 58 is raised out of the path of its associated shutters 54 thusrendering the latter effective.

Als-o before the second sensing operation the cam I56 on the first control shaft 16 rocks the lever I58 clockwise thereby moving the bar 556 to the right, as viewed in Figure 8, and through link I 13 causing the latch I18 to be engaged with the nose I19 on arm I to render ineffective the magazine feed. As has been previously described, movement of the bar I66 also rocks the spindle I15 and moves the upper end of the lever IfiI into position beneath the lower end of the stem for the card stop I8 so that the latter is retained in the raised position.

During the second sensing cycle the cam 2I I on the first control shaft it rocks the lever 269 clockwise so that the first slide 205 associated therewith is moved to the right, as viewed in Figure 2, and the upstanding latch 265 carried thereby is moved into position to be engaged by the latch plate 203 when the stem 62 supporting the card stop 34 is lowered.

During the first sensing operation the control hole in the first normal field is sensed to indicate that the second sensing cycle is to be followed by a sensing cycle in an interstage position. Accordingly when the appropriate sensing pin passes through the control hole in the first sensed normal field it actuates its corresponding transmission wire 6I which, in turn, rocks its bell crank 98 to actuate the Bowden wire I29. The Bowden wire I29 engages the swinging abutment I30 and effects clockwise movement of the arm I32 thereby rocking shaft 91 and causing the trip member 96 to be moved out of the path of the tails 95 on the pawls 83, 84 carried by the gear 80. The release of the trip member 96 is effected before the end of the first sensing cycle and it is, therefore, in order to maintain the timing of the apparatus, necessary to provide a delay device to delay the engagement of a pawl with the clutch member 9| secured to the second control shaft 11.

The delay member comprises the latch I21, described above, and this latch is retained in the position shown in Figure until just before the end of the first sensing cycle when the cam I22 on the first control shaft 16 rocks the arm I23 and shaft I24 to which the latch I21 is secured, thereby lowering the latch and moving into the path of the tails 95 of the pawls carried by the gear 80. Due to this arrangement when the pawls are released by the trip member 96, the first pawl so released is not engaged with the clutch member 9| on the second control shaft 11 as the tail 95 of that pawl is engaged by the shoulder I28 on latch I21 and is tripped so that it rides over the member 9I. Before the next pawl passes the trip member 96, however, the latch I21 has been raised so that the second pawl becomes engaged with the member HM and so clutches the second control shaft 11 to the main shaft I.

Towards the end of the second sensing cycle the first control shaft 16 is arrested by its pin 2I'4 and detent lever 2H] and the levers I06, III and 209 are restored to their starting positions, as indicated in Figure 2. The timing of the cam 2, however, is synchronised with that of the cams I82, I83 on the second control shaft 11 so that before the latch 266 carried by the first slide 206 is restored to its normal position, the lever I98 is operated by the cam I83 to permit the second slide I to be moved to the right so that the latch 202 carried thereby is moved into latching engagement with the latch plate 203 on the stem 62 supporting the card stop 34. The

cam I82 has also operated the lever I85 so that the third slide I89 moves the upstanding abutment I90 into position beneath the plate I9I thereby retaining the card stop in its raised position while the card stop 34 is lowered and is latched in its lower or ineffective position. Thus, the card in the sensing chamber is advanced until it is arrested by the card stop 35.

During the third sensing cycle, which is the first sensing cycle for interstage data positions the card field controlled by the field selecting shutter 59 is sensed and in this field, as has been stated above, there is a control hole calling for a second sensing of interstage data positions. Accordingly when this control hole is sensed the Bowden wire I02 is again actuated and permits the first control shaft 16 again to be clutched to the main shaft I' as above described.

During the third sensing cycle, the cam I60 on the second control shaft 11 rocks lever I62 so that the bar I66 is retained in the position to which it has been moved to the right, as viewed in Figure 8, to retain the latch I11 in engagement with the nose I19 thereby rendering the card feed ineffective. The spindle I15 is also 22. again rocked to retain the lever I8I in position beneath the lower end of the stem supporting the card stop I8.

As the first control shaft 16 has again been set in operation, the cams I04, I09 are moved to permit the inward movement of the levers I06, III' under the influence of the spring 263 but, as the card stop 34 is in its lower position, the lever I06 is engaged by the lower end 64 of the stem 62 and is prevented from being moved beneath the end of the stem. The upper end of the lever III, however, is moved into position below the lower end 65 of the stem 53 supporting the card stop 35. When the cams I82, I83 on the second control shaft 11 again permit the levers I85, I98 to move counter-clockwise to restore the second and third slides I69 and 20I, the card stop 34 is retained in its lower position by the latch 266, on the first slide 206, which has again been moved into latching position With the plate 203 by the actuation of the lever 209 byitscamZII.

The lever II I retains the card stop 35 in raised position and accordingly thecard remains located in the sensing chamber by the card stop 35 during a fourth sensing cycle, which is the second interstage sensing cycle.

Towards the end of the third sensing cycle the second control shaft 11 is again arrested by its pin 2I5 and the detent lever 2| 9 but the card magazine remains rendered ineffective during the fourth sensing cycle because, due to the first control shaft 16 having again been set in Operation, the cam I56 thereon has again been moved into position to retain the bar I66 in the position to which it is moved to the right, as viewed in Figure 8, to effect latching of the arm I by the latch I11. Also it will be understood that the card stop I8 is retained in its raised position during the fourth sensing cycle by the uppermost end of the lever I8I remaining in position be neath the lower end of the stem supporting the card stop I8.

From the foregoing it will be understood that by the provision of the settable control shafts 16 and 11, which are operated in timed relation with the sensing means, the sensing mechanism can be conditioned to perform varying sequences of sensing operations. The operations which have been described above have been each described as applicable to a single card. If desired, however, the cards fed from a pack in the magazine I0 need not all be cards requiring sensing in both normal data positions and interstage data positions. The machine will function continuously with mixed cards, alway provided that the control holes are positioned in the correct location to operate the appropriate control shaft.

Further, it is to be understood that although in the foregoing description the apparatus according to the present invention ha been described with reference to its application to a tabulating machine the apparatus may readily be adapted for incorporation in other forms of card controlled statistical machines.

I claim:

1. A statistical machine comprising in combination record card sensing means, card engaging elements respectively to locate a record card relative to said sensing means in positions at which during different sensing cycles normal or interstage data representations on a card can be sensed, and settable means operable under control from the sensing means to determine the number of sensing cycles during which each card 

